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Cochran challenger asks court to open poll records

Challenger to US Sen. Cochran asks Miss. Supreme Court to give him access to voting records

By JEFF AMY Associated Press

Posted on July 14, 2014 at 12:00 a.m.
| Updated on July 14, 2014 at 8:01 p.m.

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The challenger who narrowly lost a Republican primary runoff to incumbent U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran is taking his quest to view original voting records to the Mississippi Supreme Court.

State Sen. Chris McDaniel is trying to prove that some people who voted in the June 24 runoff also voted in the June 3 Democratic primary, which would be illegal. His goal is to force another runoff.

On Monday, he asked the court for an emergency order forcing Harrison County Circuit Clerk Gayle Parker to let him see original copies of poll books.

McDaniel’s lawyers maintain state law gives them access to original records, including voter birthdates. Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann and some county clerks say the law bans the release of birthdates and McDaniel must accept copies with that information redacted.